MINISTER OF EDUCATION AND CULTURE HON. ANDREW FAHIE CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE TO THE 2009/2010 PRIMARY SCHOOL GRADUATES

FRIDAY JUNE 18, 2010

People of the British Virgin Islands…

I greet you in the wonderful name of the Great God of The Universe who continues to pave our way to continued success. We are in the season, where caps, gowns, honours and praises will be the subject and conversation for many.

We are in the season where smiles, sighs of relief, tears of joy, and new beginnings will be the symbol of progress. We are indeed in the season of Graduation… a season of moving from GOOD TO GREAT.

I am pleased to announce … the results for the Primary Five School Leaving Exam for all public and private primary schools in the Territory.

I am pleased to say we have achieved an 85 percent pass rate. Eighty-five percent means…that of the 358 students that took the primary five exam… 305 completed the tasks, successfully.

This 85 percent represents students’ commitment to achieving more.
This 85 percent represents teachers’ dedication to seeing their students achieve more.
This 85 percent represents parents’ relentless support in seeing their children achieve more.
And, this 85 percent represents this government’s continued commitment to the growth and needs of our education system.
These results are heart-filled. In fact, they are gratifying. Despite the new content introduced in the new curriculum in the areas of math and language, students performed admirably.

Many had their doubts, if students could do it. But if it is one thing that I have learned while working with young people… if you introduce something new, make it creative so they can adapt easily. And, we were able to do just that with the help of educators who understand the vision and purpose of a world class education system.
Graduates…

I commend each one of you for investing in your own future. To excel in this technological world of endless distractions where games like Nintendo Wii and text messaging are hard to put down… you must pat yourselves on the back for persevering.

To excel in this global world of interruption and remain focused even though MySpace, Facebook and Farmville are enticing…is commendable.

And, to excel in this changing world where cultural diversity reign and still remain committed… is praiseworthy. Your hard work and dedication on this continuous journey of knowledge has proven that the size of your success is determined by the size of your belief.
Remember, you are the one who hold the key to what and who you will be.
Keep moving from good to great.

Parents…

A wise leader—Frederick Douglas, an African American—said…“Educate your sons and daughters, send them to school, and show them that besides the cartridge box, the ballot box, and the jury box, you have also the knowledge box.”

You, the parents, have succeeded. Your child’s success is your success. It is your continued responsibility to keep your child focused on the things of success. Let them know that intelligence and education comes with the commitment to never stop learning.
Let them know that you are where you are because of your steadfast commitment.

Want more for your child than you do for yourself.

Help them to see the importance of learning more, achieving more and doing more.
Now is time to aim for much more…especially now when the tree could still bend.
Keep moving from good to great.

Educators…

You have sweat with your students.
You have taught them with conviction and optimism.
You made them work for where they want to be…ought to be…and need to be.
I’ve heard students praise your commitment in different corners of the community.
I’ve heard parents brag about your renewed dedication in their casual conversations.
And, now the results are in.

Once again, you the teachers, principals and support staff are on top of your game…high on the achievement ladder. Thank you for believing in our children, when they found it hard to believe in themselves.
Thank you for sticking with them, when they wanted to stray.

Thank you for molding, shaping and nurturing their little minds in preparation for their new learning environment.

Educators, you must be proud of yourselves because these students are taking with them a little of you.

Keep moving from good to great. At the beginning of this school year, I challenged all of us to strive for a 100% graduation pass rate in our entire education system.
We didn’t achieve that, but there is great hope.

I believe in this old saying …if you can walk, you can dance; if you can talk, you can sing. In other words, where there is life…there is hope. I do recognize that 15 percent of you…our students… are not celebrating and may be feeling left out of the victory circle at your respective schools or community.

I do understand that you may be feeling dismayed. Instead of tears of accomplishment, you may be having tears of regret. I am aware that you may be feeling that this is the end. But, I am here to tell you…many of us, like you, have fell along the way toward achieving our vision…but that didn’t stop us from moving… living… believing and aspiring.

This little speed bump in your road is just a reminder that you need to pay more attention to where you want to be. This is not the time to give up. This is not the time to wallow in woulda, shoulda and couldas.

This is not the ticket for giving up, rather this is your passage to keep going—full throttle. And when you do… those tears of regret will become tears of joy. We want you to be successful.

As a result, we have put in place different initiatives that will help you beat resistance with persistence and blind failure with success. We refuse to let any of you fall within the cracks of society or into idle hands.

This is the time to recharge and get going. You have only just begun…hope is where you are. It’s in your heart, your mind and your community. Your knowledge box is still open and we are here to assist you to keep it open. Keep moving from good to great.

Going forward…

We are finalising the technicalities of PowerSchool so that teachers can quickly generate attendance reports, grades, assignments, school notices and other school activities. So that parents can access that information and learn about their child in real time. So that students can log in and see their own performance and do better.

This technology will soon be up in full swing. This educational tool will assist us in improving graduation rates because all persons responsible for a child’s development will have to do their part.

We will continue with curriculum reform to ensure that our education system is aligned with the needs of tomorrow. Malcom X said “Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepared for it today.”

This is to say, that the seed we plant today, is the fruit we will reap tomorrow. This dimensional approach to education from all sides is our commitment to moving our education system from good to great.

It can only benefit us if we all hope, work and tarry together. When I was sworn in as Minister of Education in August of 2007, I made a promise that together we will work beyond the call of duty to move our education system from good to great.

I pledged to work with you… teachers, principals, parents, support staff, counselors, and Education Officials … to continue to move our education system in the right direction.
I promised you… the students… that … along with my Ministry and Department of Education… and the Government, we would improve the curriculum and provide opportunities for your continued growth, development and success.

And, you the students, teachers, principals, counselors, education officials, family, Parent-Teacher Associations took on the challenge. You committed yourselves thereby ensuring remarkable success in this year’s primary five examination assessment results.
Let’s keep trying. Keep working. Keep believing. Keep winning. And, keep growing.

Can we do it? Yes we can!

Will we do it? Yes we will!

Must we do it? Yes we MUST!

The eyes of the future are staring back at us… hoping that we get it right.
Let us not disappoint the future.
With God at the steering wheel…we will continue to make it.

Keep moving from good to great.

I thank you.